Chamberlain Sensei has practiced
Matsubayashi Ryu karate since 1985. In 1991 she established her
own dojo in Santa Cruz, California. After ten years of training,
she went to Okinawa to meet the original source of her
inspiration, Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine. She stayed to train
with Grandmaster and his students in the hombu (main dojo) for
seven hours each day, studying both karate and zen meditation,
for much of 1995 and 1996.

Also beginning with her 1995 stay in Okinawa, Chamberlain Sensei
took additional training with Makishi Sensei, one of
Grandmaster’s senior students. Since that time, she has gone to
Okinawa regularly to train with him. Chamberlain Sensei has
become a part of the Makishi family, staying with them during
her many visits. When Makishi Sensei came with his family to
visit California, his son was so inspired to find the
traditional practices and dojo spirit embued in the Chamberlain
dojo that he decided to return to karate to support his father's
work in training others.

Both Grandmaster Nagamine and Makishi Sensei
honored the efforts of westerner Chamberlain by allowing special
consideration in her training, such as taking notes and asking
questions. Moreover, Soke Nagamine, son of the Grandmaster,
recognized the strength of the student/teacher bond between
Makishi Sensei and Chamberlain Sensei by putting the Chamberlain
dojo formally under the aegis of the Makishi dojo. Such a
gesture had never been made before. Since the passing of the
late Yasuharu Makishi Sensei, Chamberlain Sensei now falls under
his son, Tetsuo Makishi Sensei.

Early in her career as a karate
practitioner, Chamberlain Sensei committed herself to a lifetime
of studying and teaching. She received her Nidan (2nd degree
black belt) from Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine, Makishi Sensei,
and Tamaki Sensei, and her Sandan (3rd degree) from Grandmaster
Shoshin Nagamine.

In 2003, Chamberlain Sensei was promoted to Yondan (4th degree)
in Okinawa by Soke Nagamine and Makishi Sensei. In 2007 she
received her Godan (5th degree) promotion in Okinawa from Soke
Nagamine, Makishi Sensei, and a panel of other senior Okinawan
sensei. In 2010 Chamberlain Sensei received her Rokudan (6th
degree) or “Renshi” promotion in Okinawa from Soke Nagamine and
a panel of senior Okinawan sensei.

In November 2017 Chamberlain Sensei went to
Okinawa to test in front of a panel comprised of four senior
sensei: Taira Sensei, Arakaki Sensei, Higa Sensei, and Tome
Sensei. She received her promotion to Nanadan (7th degree).